Sophisticated computer scans of fossils have helped solve a mystery over the nature of a giant, ancient raptor known as the Haast’s eagle which became extinct about 500 years ago, researchers said…
It occurred to me that there isn’t that big of a difference between courting someone you are interested in dating and a possible investor for your start up.
Share a general interest. If you want to date someone it helps that you share similar interests at some level to help foster growth in a relationship. It’s likely that if you meet at an art exhibit you share an interest in art.
An investor will be more inclined to sink some funds into your business if he/she is shares an interest. Someone who likes to invest in alternitive energy probably won’t put money into a retail website. Investors like to know something about a particular space and be interested in it because if they are going to cut that check they need to be excited. Now there are instances where an angel will invest in an individual or team but I have found that to be a rare instance.
Many of my three readers (thanks mom and dad) are familiar with the scene from the movie “Swingers” where Jon Favreau’s character, Mike, scored a phone number from a girl at a bar. He was so excited that he wanted to call her that night despite the advice of his friends telling him to wait at least 2 days before doing so.
As determined as a fanboy in line for the new iPhone 3Gs Extreme Limited Edition he called the girl repeatedly that evening and scared her off. His obvious inexperience and desperation told that girl all she needed to know; that he isn’t seasoned in the way of wooing and doesn’t have many options in terms of other girls.
This same exhibition of inexperience and desperation will scare off any potential angel or VC just as quickly. They will see that you likely don’t have your ducks in a row. Or worse, tell a seasoned investor that you are in fact desperate and will likely let them negotiate better terms for them and not so good for you.
If you exhibit patience and hold off on the phone calls you just may get that date. Think about what comes next. With an actual date you want to pick a place to meet that shows you care but that you aren’t trying too hard. If meeting with a potential angel you’ll want to pick a place thats convenient, nice and that will allow you to talk comfortably.
As with a date always remember that investors are looking at you as much as they are looking at your business idea. If you want to impress and get to second base (with the date literally and investor metaphorically speaking) you’ll want to dress appropriately, show some manners, be polite, follow up with “thank you” emails or phones calls.
A quick game check is to ask yourself when with an investor is “How would I act if this was a date?”
Just use judgement. Holding hands and flirting probably isn’t appropriate but neither is burping, swearing or talking about the hottie at the table next to you. (In most cases).
If a potential investors likes you, likes your business and sees that it could work with a great team in place you are on your way to seeing some funds, or at the very least getting great advice. Which IMO is sometimes worth more than funding.
Every so often I hear someone talk about the (Google, Digg, Twitter) killer. The next big think that will certainly knock the current champion off its pedestal.
What I feel these people fail to realize is that web goers tend to utilize a range of tools to manage their digital lifestyle. There is no magic all in one portal that can do it all.
Would MacGyver have gone off on missions with just a knife, or just a paper clip? No. He had a Swiss Army Knife that contained a range of utilities for various scenarios and used those tools harmoniously with other items in his environment.
I think that applying the same philosophy to interwebbing will lead to a more fulfilling experience.
I’m not saying adopt EVERYTHING but don’t be so fast to judge the new thing as the killer of the last.
Just sayin…
Mike is eating Alphabits…
Everywhere I look these days it seems I see Twitter. The glorified string between two tin cans seems to spawn a new snack for the news cycle every week. Random celebrities are finding it as a way back into the spotlight after not having worked for a decade.
Tweets, fail-whales and hash tags were words that would’ve seemed nothing more than nonsense little over a year ago and now they are commonplace.
I remeber way back in the day when Twitter was expected to go down like a (insert hooker joke here) and today it operates with limited interuption.
I guess in the internet space you know you have made it when spammers find you appealing. There must be enough of an audience for the bastards to come out of Myspace for 10 seconds to tweet.
Twitter is not only a utility for free advertising but an example of how it’s done. Build, ship and revise. WOM will take care of the rest even if all doesn’t go smoothly early on. Did Digg advertise? I don’t believe so.
I see more and more internet companies going the way of key influencers via social media. It says a lot about the future of how brands are built.
Done properly and your brand will be a part of the conversation. A place in the daily routine of its users. They will eat it for breakfast without even knowing it.
Ok..I’m done here.
A timelapse video of a Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet being constructed.
Do mass following schemes devalue the Twitter experience? Just because you’re on stage doesn’t mean people care. Does it?
Everyday I see ‘tweets’ (<——trademark required, Biz?) where someone got “200 followers free!”
I can’t help but think that it’s likely those “200 free followers daily” don’t give a damn what you have to say. Chances are you don’t care what they have to say either. Its a reciprocated inflation of ones numbers to look more influential.
It’s like a rock concert. There’s a band with 25,000 real fans that show up. A following that grew organically. The band put in the time, toured, a cultivated a grassroots following that appreciates their music.
Then there are the roadies. Good people I’m sure but just because a roadie is standing on stage in front of 25,000 fans doesn’t mean those fans care about that roadie or what he has to say. Sure they may have tuned a rock legends guitar but it doesn’t mean the crowd is paying attention.
I’m not saying ALL mass following schemes that delivers thousands of followers a week are worthless. A certain percentage of followers may actually dig your tweets. It just seems that adding your name to a list and clicking “add-add-add-add-add” as your end of the bargain for someone adding you seems like a great way to create more noise in your feed than influence with followers.
Are you a roadie or a rock star?
Me? I only have 500+ followers. I am stuck playing the Enchantement Under the Sea dance for now but atleast I know that will likely mean something to someone.
“We’re shifting to an experience economy where an experience is becoming the primary economic offering.“ – Joseph Pine, author “Mass Customization”
In 2008 Tripadvisor.com reviews grew 50% to 15 million posts. That means that, whether good or bad, the entire populations of New York City and San Francisco combined cared enough about an experience that they felt the need to share.
People want a positive customer experience and now more than ever companies are equipped to provide it. Also, now more than ever consumers are equipped to tell their friends whether or not they get it.
The progression of on line communication has reached a level of virility that is both good for word-of-mouth marketing but also a potential PR nightmare. Companies that adapt, adopt and learn to leverage these tools should, in most cases, be OK and in many cases add revenue to their bottom line or increase customer satisfaction.
Companies that fail to engage the consumers look slow and disinterested in what their customers have to say. The internet never sleeps so you can’t put a “Sorry We’re Closed” sign on your support page.
Twitter is a perfect example of one of these tools. It has by most accounts been the disruptor to traditional customer service. The list of companies that have accounts on Twitter is in the thousands yet not all of these companies understand that “listening is the new marketing”, says Chris Brogan.
Companies that have listened have been rewarded in very different ways. Dell boasts $3 million in new revenue while H&R Block says that engaging customers has positioned them as the “go-to” tax experts. TechCrunch nets 85k visitors a month from twitter and Zappos uses it to “develop a deeper understanding of how the company is viewed.”says Tony Hsieh. By understanding how customers or potential customers see your organization you can identify areas that need attention, perhaps customer service or overall brand identity.
What’s important to realize is that in the case of Zappos they get it. They listen, engage and help their customers. This isn’t something that all companies do but it is something that given time and the proper culture all companies can and should do.
I have worked for numerous companies with a wide array of different cultures or lack thereof. I recall one instance where I was brainstorming with a colleague during a game of catch outside. Our manager walked by and told us it wasn’t playtime and that we should be brainstorming. What that manager didn’t realize is that we were doing what he had been wanting us to do, however, in his efforts to force us to be creative in accordance to his own ideas of how the human brain works he stifled all creativity and inevitably the project.
A positive corporate culture starts with a simple recipe that if executed properly delivers results. 007-373-5963 gets you Tyson style. Up-Up-Down-Down…gets you 99 lives Contra style. Positivity, creativity and support from colleagues creates an environment that fosters learning, personal and professional growth and above all a loyalty for the organization and dedication to it purpose; Zappos style.
As a business are your employees at work because you pay them or because they love coming to work? How are you fostering a culture of sharing, learning and fun?
As an employee are you part of a positive culture? How can you take steps to improve where you work?
Zappos is so passionate about spreading their ideas that they offer a 2 day boot-camp to help people learn more.
Myself, I am starting my own venture an I often use Zappos in my pitch as an example of the type of culture I want to emulate. There are no hotshots, no judging of others. A work environment where people are free to share ideas and no one is more important than anyone else.
I understand that there is no warp zone to success with developing a culture. It takes time and there’s value in going through all the levels. You get more coins that way!
Take care of your customers and they will take care of you.
The Limousines played for a few people in the Santa Barbara harbor. It was a good time.
This ant is composed of 400 pictures, and it’s magnified 400x using a scanning electron microscope. The ant was given to us to image by Brian Fisher an entomologist at the California Academy of…
They took my pug and he told me he was taking him to the pound where he would be “put down.” I was taken to the J stop headquarters. I wasn’t allowed to call a lawyer and I was put in a cell with…
My new dessert creation the ‘Pa-hoe-hoe’ Heat up strawberry-rhubarb pie and lay a Klondike bar on top. As it melts together the awesomeness ensues. It’s like chocolate covered berries a’ la mode.
Lady Gaga-Poker Face FOR ORCHESTRA by the very talented @WaltRibeiro
Nice work buddy.
